THE KING S EEOENBS
deal of mischief. On April 20th Wilkes surrendered himself
to the Court of the King's Bench; but on a legal quibble his
case was not proceeded with that day. A new warrant had
therefore to be prepared; but when it was ready the Sheriffs'
Officers were reluctant to execute it. That angered the King.
In a letter to Weymouth he said:
I cannot conclude without expressing my sorrow that so mean a
set of men as the Sheriffs* Officers can, either from timidity or
interestedness, frustrate a due exertion of the law. If he [Wilkes]
is not soon secured, I wish you would inquire whether there is no
legal method of quickening the zeal of the Sheriffs themselves.
On the same day [April 25th] he put North in possession of a
confidence.
Though entirely confiding in your attachment to my person, as
well as in your hatred of every lawless proceeding, yet I thi.nk it
highly proper to apprise you that the expulsion of Mr Wilkes
appears to be very essential, and must be effected.
George had already made up his mind that Wilkes should not
sit in the House of Commons as the representative of the electors
of Middlesex.
Wilkes was eventually arrested—but not without violence—
on April 2yth: he was promptly committed to prison to await
his trial. The King at once penned a note to Weymouth, urging
him to keep * a very careful eye ... on the King's Bench
Prison,* where Wilkes was incarcerated. Three days later, when
informed that the prison was constantly besieged by angry crowds,
he wrote to Weymouth suggesting that the Attorney-General
might consider the advisability of asking the Court to commit
W2kes to the c Tower, where the like illegal concourse will be
effectually prevented, without harassing tie troops/ He had
accepted Wilkes's challenge and was determined to fight to the
bitter end. In the same letter George said to Weymouth:
If a due firmness is shewn with regard to this audacious criminal,
this affair will prove a fortunate one, by restoring a due obedience
to the laws. But if this is not the case I fear anarchy will continue
till what every temperate man must dread, I mean an effusion of
blood, has vanquished.
Those are the words of a realist.